Mutere’s journey to opening his studio wasn’t an overnight success; it was driven by passion, perseverance, and a deep commitment to his craft.
He credits his achievements to the KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri programme, which empowers unemployed and out-of-school youth by providing technical skills training to help them build micro-enterprises. The programme also supports existing micro-entrepreneurs aiming to transition from the informal to the formal sector.
Through the foundation, Mutere received sponsorship to study film at Filamu Juani, leading him to start Emunai Media Production, an audiovisual business.
Growing up as a nomad in a simple background, Mutere initially engaged in livestock keeping. After high school, he pursued a diploma in media, journalism, and mass communication, which led to various roles in media houses before he became a freelancer. Despite challenges, including the need for better equipment and skilled crew, his training with KCB Foundation proved invaluable.
Mutere discovered the KCB programme through an advertisement and applied in 2020 after losing a job due to Covid-19. Although he initially faced delays, he eventually joined the film course in 2023, gaining skills in camera operation, lighting, sound, communication, editing, and photography.
This training not only enhanced his technical skills but also helped him overcome the limitations of his equipment. Mutere’s studio in Tuala, Kajiado, now caters to a wide range of clients, including those from various counties, offering services for birthdays, graduations, video conferences, and other events.
Mutere has also employed young people and encourages others to become job creators rather than job seekers. He believes that creating employment opportunities can help address unemployment and calls for supportive government policies to foster a conducive business environment.
The KCB 2Jiajiri programme has significantly impacted youth unemployment by creating over 149,000 jobs, training nearly 30,000 youths, incubating 9,700 businesses, and disbursing Sh267 million in loans. The programme has also provided 1,612 startup toolkits and trained 6,335 businesses in financial planning.